Type approval & Individual vehicle registration - Process

This LAP analyses:
• The classification of hydrogen vehicles for type approval purposes,
• The applicable types of type approvals,
• The responsible approval authorities, and
• The differences in type approval process of hydrogen vehicles compared to conventional vehicles.

Glossary:

Type approval means the procedure whereby a EU Member State certifies that a type of vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit satisfies the relevant administrative provisions and technical requirements.
Motor vehicle registration is the registration of a motor vehicle with a government authority. The purpose of motor vehicle registration is to establish a link between a vehicle and an owner or user of the vehicle. While almost all motor vehicles are uniquely identified by a vehicle identification number, only registered vehicles display a vehicle registration plate and carry a vehicle registration certificate.
Council Directive 1999/37/ EC on the registration documents for vehicle/.
Registration means the administrative authorisation for the entry into service in road traffic of a vehicle, involving the identification of the latter and the issuing to it of a serial number, to be known as the registration number.

Pan-European Assessment:

The type approval process for hydrogen powered vehicles does not in general differ from that of conventional vehicles, however the hydrogen systems and components have to undergo a number of specific tests.

The requirements and procedures for the type approval of hydrogen powered vehicles are harmonized across EU and do not represent a structural barrier or a regulatory gap. Some issues may arise due to differences in interpretation, implementation and enforcement of the EU and UNECE regulations by national type -approval authorities. This may present an operational barrier and thus it is essential to ensure a correct and harmonised application of the type-approval procedures
Is it a barrier?
No (conversion - regulatory gap)
Assessment Severity
NA
Assessment
FCEVs are entirely new for Bulgaria. They may be registered according to producers’ specifications in case they are imported, so this will not be a barrier. However for conversion (Hybridization) the procedures should be a barrier (lots of tests according to some standards (for instance magnetic compatibility) are not available in Bulgaria, some are even not known. That will be a severe barrier (in the moment it is barrier for batteries electric cars produced by conversion).

Questions:

Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) a - cars (incl. taxis)
a - For the type approval purposes the hydrogen vehicles are classified as hydrogen vehicles according to Commission Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 on type–approval of hydrogen–powered motor vehicles.
Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) b - buses
b - electric vehicle
Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) c - trolleybuses
c - electric vehicle
Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) d - trucks
d - electric vehicle
Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? a - EU
a - EC–Type approval (Chapter III – VII of Directive 2007/46/EC
Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? b - National
b - National type approval (of small series) (Art.23 of Directive 2007/46/EC, Road traffic act Art. 140, p.1, p.2 & Art. 138 Road Traffic Act (https://lex.bg/bg/laws/ldoc/2134649345)
Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? c - Individual
c - Individual approvals (Art.24 of Directive 2007/46/EC Road traffic act Art. 140, p.1, p.2 l
Question 3 Which is the responsible approval authority? a) for the type approval i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks b) for individual vehicle registration i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks
a) for the type approval i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks - Executive Agency "Automobile Administration" at the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications b) for individual vehicle registration i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – Ministry of Internal Affairs – Traffic Police; Road Traffic Act ii. – Ministry of Internal Affairs – Traffic Police
Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? a - cars (incl. taxis)
No in case the car in imported with full documentation
Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? b - buses
b - No in case the car in imported with full documentation
Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? c - trolleybuses
c - No in case the car in imported with full documentation
Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? d - trucks If yes, please specify, e.g. how long does the procedure take and what are the costs to obtain a type approval?
d - No in case the car in imported with full documentation
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Electric vehicles and CNG

National legislation:

EU Legislation: